SOLD A superb antique 17th -19th century Hungarian – Polish Nobleman's silver-gilt mounted sword belt, made in the characteristic Transylvanian manner of belts produced in Hermannstadt - Nagyszeben, present-day Romanian city Sibiu, which was an important goldsmith center, and the producer of weapons and military equipment, not only for Hungary, but also for Central and Eastern Europe. Many of these types of Transylvanian belts were exported to the Kingdom of Poland due to the fact that the costumes and weapons of Hungarian Nobleman were similar to the Polish Nobleman's. Because the belts from Transylvania were very expensive, these types of belts were frequently copied by Polish craftsmen, so sometimes it is difficult to determine if a belt is an actual Transylvanian product, or made in Poland, but in the Transylvanian style. Some of the belts have been described in Polish museums as Hungarian-Transylvanian, or Polish made in the Transylvanian style. In the Ukrainian museums in Lwow these types of belts are described as Ukrainian belts. DETAILS: The terminals fitted with two large solid silver gilt buckles composed from two elements connected by the chinch, each decorated with a broad panel in repousse work, chased and pierced with baroque ornaments and scrolling foliage against a silver gilt panel within a ropework frame, fitted at the end with a serpent head hook on one side and with a silver chain for closure on the other, decorated in roped pattern. Both buckles fully hallmarked on the back with assay office mark and with the silversmith mark. The belt is made of leather with the exterior covered with beige fabric finely embroidered with floral design in silver-wrapped thread with roped border. The back of the belt is finished with a blue velvet lining. CONDITION: The belt is overall in good condition showing its age and usage, some wear and loss to silver embroidery and roped border, the blue velvet lining has some holes. MEASUREMENTS: Overall length including chain: 114.3 cm (45 inches). Overall length without the chain: 132 cm (52 inches). Width: 4.8 cm (1 7/8 in). Dimensions of the individually single silver buckle: Overall length: 16.5 cm (6 1/2 in). Width: 5.5 cm (2 1/8 in). Total weight of the belt: 560 grams (19.7534 Ounce). REFERENCES: A similar example is preserved in the Magyar Nemzeti Museum Budapest. 1. Five examples of these rare belts are in the collection of the Museum national in Krakow - Please see the attached pictures. 2. Also two very similar belts have been presented at the exhibition - A Passion for Collecting - The Collection of Ryszard Z.Janiak, in the Royal Castle in Warsaw 2007 and are published in the catalogue from the exhibition on pages 454 -- 455. 3. Another is in the book "Poradnik Polskiego Kolekcjonera, page 12. 4. Baroque Splendor --The Art of the Hungarian Goldsmith. 5.Pasy metalowe Polskie i obce w zbiorach Muzeum Narodowego w Krakowie. 6. Encyclopaedia of Ukraine." 7. Pasja Zbierania Kolekcja Ryszarda Z.Janiaka. 8. Poradnik Polskiego Kolekcjonera. The buyer will be provided with a copy of the pages from the mentioned references, together with the certificate of authenticity.

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